By Ajong Mbapndah L
The African Energy Chamber (AEC) has welcomed the formal endorsement of the Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline by West African leaders, describing the landmark project as one of the most transformative energy infrastructure investments ever conceived on the African continent and a catalyst for industrialization, regional integration and energy security.
Speaking in an interview with the BBC following the recent approval of the project by ECOWAS leaders in Freetown, African Energy Chamber Senior Vice President Verner Ayukegba said the pipeline represents far more than a gas export route, arguing that it offers Africa a unique opportunity to use its natural resources to power economic growth while expanding access to reliable energy for millions of people.
The approximately 6,000-kilometre pipeline, estimated to cost around $25 billion, will transport Nigerian natural gas along the Atlantic coast through numerous West African countries before reaching Morocco, where it will connect with Europe’s gas network through Spain. Construction is expected to begin in 2028 following the recent political endorsement by ECOWAS Heads of State.
For the African Energy Chamber, however, the project’s greatest significance lies not in exports but in its potential to reshape Africa’s own energy landscape.
During the BBC interview, Ayukegba emphasized that the pipeline would unlock enormous opportunities for countries along its route by making gas available for electricity generation, industrial development and manufacturing. Rather than simply moving hydrocarbons from one destination to another, he argued, the project has the potential to become the backbone of an integrated West African energy market capable of stimulating new industries and creating jobs across multiple economies.
The Chamber has consistently maintained that Africa cannot industrialize without first addressing its chronic energy deficit. More than 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity, making energy poverty one of the continent’s greatest barriers to economic transformation.
Ayukegba stressed that natural gas remains Africa’s most practical transition fuel because it can rapidly expand electricity generation while supporting manufacturing and reducing dependence on more polluting fuels such as coal and diesel. This position has long formed part of the Chamber’s broader advocacy for an African-led energy transition that reflects the continent’s development priorities rather than externally imposed timelines.
According to Ayukegba, projects such as the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline demonstrate why Africa should maximize the value of its abundant natural gas resources instead of leaving them undeveloped while millions continue to live without reliable electricity.
He noted that access to affordable energy remains essential for attracting investment into manufacturing, mining, agriculture, petrochemicals and other productive sectors capable of creating large-scale employment opportunities.
The African Energy Chamber also views the project as an important demonstration of African countries’ ability to collaborate on infrastructure of continental significance.
Running through more than a dozen West African nations, the pipeline will require unprecedented cooperation on regulation, financing, construction and long-term operations. The Chamber believes that this level of collaboration strengthens regional integration while creating shared economic interests that extend beyond the energy sector.
Ayukegba argued that such cross-border infrastructure encourages investment, facilitates trade and helps establish stronger economic links between African economies, consistent with the broader objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The project is also expected to improve energy security by providing participating countries with greater access to cleaner-burning natural gas for domestic power generation.
Instead of relying heavily on imported refined fuels or expensive diesel generation, governments could utilize pipeline gas to expand electricity production, reduce energy costs and improve industrial competitiveness.
For investors, the Chamber believes the pipeline sends a powerful signal that Africa remains committed to developing large-scale energy infrastructure despite global uncertainty surrounding future investment in hydrocarbons.
Ayukegba has repeatedly argued that Africa’s energy future should be determined by Africans themselves, stressing that the continent contributes only a small fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions while continuing to experience the world’s highest levels of energy poverty. The Chamber therefore maintains that responsible development of Africa’s natural gas resources is compatible with global climate objectives while delivering tangible development benefits for African populations.
The Chamber further believes that the Nigeria-Morocco pipeline could unlock additional upstream investment as producers gain confidence that reliable export and domestic transportation infrastructure will be available to commercialize future discoveries.
Improved infrastructure could also encourage greater investment in gas processing, fertilizer production, petrochemicals and other value-added industries, allowing more of Africa’s natural resources to be processed on the continent rather than exported in raw form.
Beyond economics, Ayukegba highlighted the strategic importance of the pipeline in strengthening Africa’s energy resilience. By creating interconnected regional gas infrastructure, participating countries would be better positioned to manage supply disruptions, balance demand and support long-term economic growth.
The African Energy Chamber has consistently argued that Africa needs more infrastructure—not less—to unlock its vast natural resource potential, and the Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline stands as one of the continent’s boldest expressions of that vision.
As political momentum gathers following ECOWAS’ endorsement, the Chamber says the focus must now shift toward mobilizing financing, maintaining cooperation among participating governments and ensuring timely implementation.
For Ayukegba, the project’s success would represent much more than another energy investment. It would demonstrate that African countries can successfully deliver complex cross-border infrastructure capable of transforming economies, improving livelihoods and strengthening regional integration for decades to come.
“The Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline is not simply about moving gas,” the Chamber’s position suggests. It is about creating an integrated African energy market that powers industries, connects economies, expands electricity access and provides the foundation upon which lasting economic transformation can be built.
